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Ticked Off: Proof Youself and Your Property

We hear about the danger of tick bites in the woods and by the beach. Yet approximately 75% of tick bites occur in your own yard. Here are ways to protect yourself and your family.

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Updated: 11:01 AM EDT Sep 14, 2015

Ticked Off: Proof Youself and Your Property

We hear about the danger of tick bites in the woods and by the beach. Yet approximately 75% of tick bites occur in your own yard. Here are ways to protect yourself and your family.

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Updated: 11:01 AM EDT Sep 14, 2015

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WEBVTT HOST: OTHER NEW ENGLAND STATES REFRAIN FROM SPENDING ON TICK CONTROL. PREVENTION BECOMES THE RESPONSIBILITY OF HOMEOWNERS AND FAMILIES. THE FIRST KNOWN CASE OF LYME DISEASE WAS IN L CONNECTICUT. HENCE THE NAME. MOST STATES DO NOT SPEND MONEY DIRECTLY ON TICK CONTROL AND PREVENTION. THERE IS NOT MUCH YOU CAN DO AT A STATE OR TOWN LEVEL. WE ESTIMATE THREE QUARTERS OF THE BITES ARE ACQUIRED BY RESIDENTS IN THEIR OWN BACKYARD. REPORTER: HIKING OR WALKING ONLY ACCOUNTS FOR ONE OUT OF FOUR BYTES. MOST OCCUR WHEN HOMEOWNERS DO YARD WORK OR CHILDREN PLAY OUTSIDE. THAT IS WHERE HE STEPS IN. HIS WEBSITE HAS WHAT HE CALLS SMART ACTIONS TO KEEP PEOPLE SAFE. THIS IS A GREAT TIME FOR PERSONAL PROTECTION WHICH INCLUDES DAILY TICK CHECKS. WEARING REPELLENT CLOSE. REPORTER: WEARING TREATED CLOTHING GOES A LONG WAY. WHEN THEY CRAWL ACROSS THE CLOTHING, EVEN FOR SHORT TIMES, FIVE SECONDS, 10 SECONDS, THEY APPEAR TO GET ENOUGH OF A DOSE THEY FALL OFF. HOW IT WORKS SO EFFECTIVELY BUT PRESENTS SUCH A LOW RISK TO PEOPLE IS AMAZING. REPORTER: HE IS WORKING WITH THE TICK TASK FORCE TO HELP EDUCATE RESIDENTS, MAKING THEM TAKE SMART. BLAKE DICKENSON IS A TOWN COUNCIL MEMBER. IT IS A GROUP OF CITIZENS WHO FEEL THE TICKBORNE DISEASES ARE A SERIOUS ISSUE. THE TOWN DID AN INFORMAL SURVEY. UPWARDS TO HALF OF THE HOUSEHOLDS HAD SOMEONE IMPACTED BY A TICKBORNE DISEASE. THAT IS PRETTY HIGH. REPORTER: FROM PROVIDING INFORMATION TO ENCOURAGING RESIDENTS TO SPRAY LAWNS, HE IS HELPING MAKE THE TOWN TAKE SMART. HE IS A RESIDENT. WE NEVER REALLY SAW ANY TICKS. WE HAVE BEEN HERE ABOUT TWO MONTHS. WE HAVE SEEN TWO TICKS LOOSE IN THE HOUSE AND TWO TICKS ATTACHED TO MY SON. REPORTER: IT TOOK ONLY SECONDS AFTER A SWEEP OF THE PROPERTY. THE FEMALE LONE STAR TICK, THAT'S WHAT WE ARE WORRIED ABOUT MOVING IN TO NEW ENGLAND. IT CAN CARRY A FEW INFECTIONS. IT CARRIES A BACTERIA THAT CAN CAUSE SERIOUS HEALTH IMPACTS. REPORTER: THE TICK TASK FORCE FOR KISSES -- FOCUSES ON EDUCATION. WE WANTED TO TRANSFER THE KNOWLEDGE ABOUT WHICH TICKS THEY FIND ON THEM. WHAT TO DO. WHAT THE TIMEFRAME IS TO GET THEM OFF. WITH $15,000, THEY ARE MAKING INROADS. THERE SEEMS TO BE MORE ATTENTION BEING PAID AT THE MUNICIPAL LEVEL. TOWNS LIKE JAMESTOWN IN COURAGE ME. REPORTER: THEY HAVE MADE TICK SMART CHANGES. WE DO A ROUTINE TICK CHECK. THE KIDS HAVE GOTTEN INTO THE ROUTINE. WE DO SPRAY IF THEY ARE PLAYING ALONG THE WOODS. TRYING TO GET BETTER ABOUT THE ROUTINES. THEN YOU GO BACK TO THE CHEMICALS. SOME PEOPLE MAY HAVE APPREHENSION ABOUT SPRAIN CLOSE AND SHOES. ALL OF US WORRY ABOUT CHEMICALS IN SOME REGARD. THE DOCTOR SAYS, THE RISKS ARE SMALL AND THE BENEFITS HIGH. IT WOULD TAKE A 120 FOUND -- YOU'D HAVE TO PUT 4000 PAIRS OF TREATED HANDS JUST TO REACH THE HIGHEST LEVEL THE EPA CONSIDERED SAFE. HE IS NOT SURE HOW IT WORKS BUT HE FEELS IT IS EFFECTIVE. YET, THIS IS THE FIRST I HAVE HEARD ABOUT THE SPRAY. OUTDOOR STORES ARE ALREADY SELLING THIS. A NEW STORE OPENED FOR THOSE WHO ALREADY HAVE LYME DISEASE WE HAVE NUTRITIONISTS, PSYCHOLOGISTS. ON CAPE COD, A SMALL ARMY BATTLES LYME DISEASE.

Ticked Off: Proof Youself and Your Property

We hear about the danger of tick bites in the woods and by the beach. Yet approximately 75% of tick bites occur in your own yard. Here are ways to protect yourself and your family.